OBIT

10.05.11

Steve Jobs Dies at 56

Jeff Chiu / AP Photo

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple computers who was considered one of the most visionary Americans of a generation, died Wednesday. He was 56 years old. Apple's board said in a statement that Jobs died "peacefully surrounded by his family," but did not give a cause of death, although Jobs suffered from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer for years. Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 with his childhood friend Steve Wozniak. At Apple, Jobs introduced OSX, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad—all considered revolutionary innovations. In 2004 Jobs first announced he had a rare form of cancer, and in 2009 he was forced to take a six-month leave of absence. He returned, but health issues forced him to take another leave at the beginning of 2011, and he resigned as CEO in August. Apple released a statement Wednesday night saying it had "lost a visionary and creative genius" and "his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."